Celebrity chef David Burke is the consulting partner of a Cuban-Asian-American fusion restaurant being built in his hometown.

New Jersey restaurateur Alex Duran, co-owner of expansive Son Cubano in West New York, hopes to open this winter Ventanas, a 7,000-plus-square foot space at The Modern, a residential skyscraper near the George Washington Bridge. "It's the most expensive apartment building in all of New Jersey," said Duran, noting that Burke has an apartment there and so does he. Ricardo Cardona, currently the chef at Son Cubano and the head chef to the Yankees and visiting teams, will helm the kitchen at Ventanas.

"Burke is going to be the engineer in the kitchen," Duran said, adding that the menu will offer a lot of "small, shareable plates."

Burke, an Iron Chef America regular, with a slew of restaurants including the relatively new Tavern62 in New York; Dirt House in Sea Bright; and the see-and-be-seen BLT Prime by David Burke at Trump International Hotel in DC, said he's excited by the project, especially about creating Korean-style food. "I love Asian food," he said. "Every time you have something from another culture, it leads to something else." Besides, he said, "Korean food is hot now."

He added, "This will be more exciting for me because it's thinking outside-of-the-box of what people expect from me." He is also thrilled that it's not another steakhouse, another Italian restaurant, or another Korean restaurant in North Jersey. "This will be unique," he said. "I think there's room for a new concept."

Duran, too, is excited, especially about the big space. "I like big," Duran said. Thus, he is planning on a 100-person patio with an outdoor bar and 82-inch TV. A dining room that feeds 150 people. A large lounge area for people to enjoy drinks and mingle. He is also planning on offering music.

Construction continues on the second apartment tower at the Modern complex in Fort Lee last December.(Photo: Viorel Florescu/NorthJersey.com)

How did Burke and Duran meet? Burke one night came to check out Son Cubano – and loved the concept.

Duran maintains that despite Burke's many other obligations, the chef will be in the kitchen of Ventanas. "Oh, he'll be there," he said. "He lives there."

Asked if that's true, Burke laughed, and then added, "I'll probably begin and end my days there. I do live there."